Retirement living — redefined

“I didn’t know the full breadth of the ministry that Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services offers.”

These are statements we frequently hear from residents, clients, business partners and members of the greater community. Perceptions about long-term care and older adult housing and services can prevent people from en­gaging early with organizations like ours. Yet when they do, they are amazed at all we have to offer.

A business colleague once said, “In order for an organi­zation to elevate, they need to innovate.” The emphasis on innovation struck a chord. At Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services (OPRS), we work every day to redefine how we deliver service. Our ministry for older adults began over 92 years ago. We now serve over 80,000 people in 41 of Ohio’s 88 counties, and our ministry has matured into a full range of service options. These options not only meet the needs of those we serve, but redefine what retirement living is all about.

From our humble beginnings, like many of our esteemed competitors, retirement living was defined as moving to a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) and “leaving your world behind.” Although we offered everything from independent living to skilled nursing care, it was defined only within the walls of a physical campus. It was as if we expected residents to remove themselves from the greater community. As a result, residents only came to live with us when it was absolutely necessary, usually due to health con­cerns. They sold their home, disconnected from their friends and community and moved to one of our senior living com­munities.

Today we are reaching out to those we serve beyond physical boundaries. We provide services to hospitalized patients who don’t know where to turn when they need additional care to return home; we provide short term re­habilitation services to people recovering from illnesses, in­juries or surgeries who need help transitioning back home; we provide home and community services to clients who need a little extra help to remain independent at home; and we partner with hospitals, health care providers, insurance companies and members of our local communities to en­sure coordination of care at all levels of support. We are no longer waiting for residents to come to us. Instead, we are starting to build relationships early and reach out to people in the place they call home, wherever that may be.

Courtesy of River Landing

Meanwhile, we still provide retirement communities, but do so in a way that enriches physical, mental and spiritual well-being. We have redefined what constitutes a CCRC, and provide modern accommodations and amenities. For example, our community dining rooms could rival any lo­cal restaurant with the talents of our exceptional executive chefs and culinary services teams.

As a faith-based ministry with over 3,100 team mem­bers, we are proud to serve and advocate for older adults. We hope that worn-out notions of retirement living are a thing of the past. We want to be with people as they LIVE through their retirement and provide care to them on their terms, when and how they want it. Our strong faith, values and commitment to service are strengthened by our drive to innovate and redefine living through retirement.

LAURENCE GUMINA is president and CEO of Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services and serves on the PAHSA board of directors.

Comments

According to the latest actuarial tables used by the SSA, the average 60 year old male in 2015 can expect to live another 24 years give or take. A female 85 years of age today has a 1 in 4 chance to see 100. The take away is that whenever one chooses to transition into retirement, their physical lives will continue on for decades. Outside of the bigger issues of financial planning to carry one though 30 plus years of life, and health care matters, the biggest issue faced by all retirees is finding purpose and meaning in their 2nd or 3rd acts. That which gives context and value to how one spends their remaining decades.

Presbyterian clergy are famous for hanging on and hanging on well into their 70s in some cases, in a parish or church based employment context. I think that paradigm may not continue going forward as those types of placements that historically employed such a age cohort, close, go off the grid, or go in another path. The question then remains, what are you going to do with the rest of your life? I have always found that ministry and calling comes in many forms and sizes, many different contexts. As a path comes to an end, another will emerge. May we have the courage and faith to embrace such paths when the Good Lord presents them.

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